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AI in Canada

How far Canada has come on AI, and how complete its AI rulebook is: two scores, six lenses, every law linked to its official text.
38.5% of people aged 15–64 used a generative AI product in Q2 2026, up from 33.5% in H1 2025; #16 of the 147 economies Microsoft tracks. Its strongest lens is Research (#4 of 40) and its weakest Infrastructure (#12). On AI law, there is no AI law or bill; existing regulators apply privacy, consumer and sector rules to ai.
Follow CanadaAI law in Canada
#5 of 40 on Progress37/100 Rulebook6 verified laws and rulesChecked 21 Oct 2026
In the Record’s memory6 dated events since January 2023, by month and kind. Darker means busier; choose a square to see those events.
See all 6 in the ledger →
Laws and rules6

Canada through six lenses

How the scores work →
The same six lenses, in the same order, on every country page. Each shows its lead number, the rank among the countries the source covers, and every indicator behind the lens score. 15 of 17 indicators measure Canada.
01Adoption#10 of 40
How widely are people and firms using AI?
38.5%
share of people aged 15–64 who used generative AI, Q2 2026
H1 2025Q2 2026
Lens score52
03Research#4 of 40
Does it build AI and its science?
54
notable AI models, 2003–2025
Lens score63
05Infrastructure#12 of 40
Does it have the machines?
3,109
H100-equivalents of known AI supercomputer capacity in operation, Oct 2026
Lens score35

AI law in Canada

How to check a law →

Canada has no federal AI statute after AIDA lapsed in January 2025; a national AI strategy launched in June 2026, and privacy Bill C-36 (no AI framework) sits at first reading.

Existing regulators, no AI statuteNo AI law or bill; existing regulators apply privacy, consumer and sector rules to AI.
  1. Adopted, not yet in forceGuidance · bindingAdopted 11 Sep 2025 · Takes effect 1 May 2027

    OSFI Guideline E-23, Model Risk Management (including AI/ML models)

    Model risk management expectations for federally regulated financial institutions (banks, foreign bank branches, insurers, trust and loan companies), with a broad 'model' definition covering AI/ML and third-party models, applied proportionately.

    Official text Independent check Confidence: high
  2. In forceStrategy · not bindingAdopted 4 Jun 2026

    Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy ('AI for All')

    Five-year strategy announced by the Prime Minister on 4 June 2026 after delays; six pillars anchored in trust, opportunity and sovereignty, with safety and security first (privacy and online-safety law updates, national AI safety capacity); adoption-focused, no new AI regulation.

    Official text Independent check Confidence: medium
  3. In forceLaw · bindingAdopted 22 Sep 2021 · In force from 22 Sep 2023

    Quebec Law 25 (Act to modernize legislative provisions as regards the protection of personal information), automated-decision provisions

    Section 12.1 of Quebec's private-sector privacy Act (added by Law 25, in force 22 September 2023): organisations must tell individuals when a decision is based exclusively on automated processing, explain factors on request and allow review by a person.

    Penalty Administrative penalties up to CAD 10m or 2% of worldwide turnover; penal fines up to CAD 25m or 4%
    Official text Independent check Confidence: high
  4. VoluntaryGuidance · not bindingAdopted Sep 2023

    Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of Advanced Generative AI Systems

    Voluntary commitments on accountability, safety, fairness, transparency, human oversight and robustness for advanced generative AI developers and managers; about 40 signatories after the November 2024 additions.

    Official text Independent check Confidence: medium
  5. In forceRegulation · bindingAdopted 1 Apr 2019

    Treasury Board Directive on Automated Decision-Making

    Binds federal institutions using automated decision systems for administrative decisions: Algorithmic Impact Assessment, notice before and explanation after decisions, recourse, human intervention and public reporting; compliance from 1 April 2020. A fourth review consulted to January 2025; publication of a revised version was not confirmed.

    Penalty Any measure under the Financial Administration Act that the Treasury Board considers appropriate
    Official text Independent check Confidence: high
  6. Bill before parliamentBill · not binding

    Bill C-36, An Act to enact the Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act and to amend the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (45th Parliament, 1st session)

    Government privacy bill sponsored by the Minister of AI and Digital Innovation, introduced and read a first time on 15 June 2026; would replace Part 1 of PIPEDA (renamed the Electronic Documents Act). Contains no standalone AI framework; no recorded activity after first reading.

    Official text Independent check Confidence: high
1 more item is awaiting verification. We publish a law only after confirming its status and dates against an official source; until then it earns no Rulebook points.

The Rulebook score, line by line

What each line means →
37 of 100. Each line names the law or body that earns its points.
  1. Binding AI rulesNo AI-specific law, bill or official draft0/35
  2. A national AI strategy, adopted or updated since 2022Canada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy ('AI for All')8/8
  3. A body named to oversee or enforce AI rulesNone found0/6
  4. An AI safety or evaluation instituteSee Institutions6/6
  5. A right to challenge automated decisions, in forceQuebec Law 25 (Act to modernize legislative provisions as regards the…6/12
  6. Rules on AI-generated content: labels or deepfake offences, in forceNone found0/13
  7. International AI governance initiatives endorsed (of 8)8 of 8. Source: AI governance initiatives by country12/12
  8. Council of Europe AI Convention: signed 5, ratified 8Signed5/8

The record

What gets an entry →
Every dated step: laws adopted and coming into force, and each reading of AI use. Newest first; future dates are marked.
  1. 1 May 2027Coming upOSFI Guideline E-23, Model Risk Management (including AI/ML models) takes effectOfficial sourceSource →
  2. 30 Jun 2026AdoptionAI user share reached 38.5%, from 37.3% in Q1 2026Share of people aged 15–64 who used a generative AI product, Q2 2026.Independent estimateSource →
  3. 4 Jun 2026LawsCanada's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy ('AI for All') adoptedFive-year strategy announced by the Prime Minister on 4 June 2026 after delays; six pillars anchored in trust, opportunity and sovereignty, with safety and security first (privacy and online-safety law updates, national …Official sourceSource →
  4. 31 Mar 2026AdoptionAI user share reached 37.3%, from 35.0% in H2 2025Share of people aged 15–64 who used a generative AI product, Q1 2026.Independent estimateSource →
  5. 31 Dec 2025AdoptionAI user share reached 35.0%, from 33.5% in H1 2025Share of people aged 15–64 who used a generative AI product, H2 2025.Independent estimateSource →
  6. 11 Sep 2025LawsOSFI Guideline E-23, Model Risk Management (including AI/ML models) adoptedModel risk management expectations for federally regulated financial institutions (banks, foreign bank branches, insurers, trust and loan companies), with a broad 'model' definition covering AI/ML and third-party models,…Official sourceSource →
  7. 22 Sep 2023LawsQuebec Law 25 (Act to modernize legislative provisions as regards the… came into forceOfficial sourceSource →
  8. Sep 2023LawsVoluntary Code of Conduct on the Responsible Development and Management of… adoptedVoluntary commitments on accountability, safety, fairness, transparency, human oversight and robustness for advanced generative AI developers and managers; about 40 signatories after the November 2024 additions.Official sourceSource →
  9. 22 Sep 2021LawsQuebec Law 25 (Act to modernize legislative provisions as regards the… adoptedSection 12.1 of Quebec's private-sector privacy Act (added by Law 25, in force 22 September 2023): organisations must tell individuals when a decision is based exclusively on automated processing, explain factors on requ…Official sourceSource →
  10. 1 Apr 2019LawsTreasury Board Directive on Automated Decision-Making adoptedBinds federal institutions using automated decision systems for administrative decisions: Algorithmic Impact Assessment, notice before and explanation after decisions, recourse, human intervention and public reporting; c…Official sourceSource →

How people in Canada see AI

Public opinion on AI →
Survey results, not scored. They show the mood that new AI rules land in.
40%say AI products have more benefits than drawbacks, 2025+8 points since 2022Ipsos, 2022–25 →40%trust their government to regulate AI responsibly2025Ipsos →41%of employees say they trust AI at work43% use itUniversity of Melbourne and KPMG International →

Canada beside its peers

All 40 countries →
The two Progress leaders and the countries nearest to Canada in its region. A dash means no source measures that lens for the country.
MeasureCanadaUnited StatesChinaBrazilMexicoArgentina
Progressfive lenses, 0–10053#577#174#225#2216#2916#30
Adoptionlens score525656594246
Talentlens score5452—3489
Researchlens score6389830011
Investmentlens score5910074000
Infrastructurelens score358883303113
Rulebook0–100377484561922
AI user shareQ2 2026 · Microsoft38.5%33.0%17.5%20.2%21.4%23.4%
Approach to AI lawExisting regulators, no AI statuteState laws, no federal AI statuteBinding rules by use caseAI bill in progressAI bill in progressAI bill in progress

More of Americas

Every country →
United States77Progress74RulebookState laws, no federal AI statuteOpen tracker →Mexico16Progress19RulebookAI bill in progressOpen tracker →Colombia11Progress21RulebookAI bill in progressOpen tracker →Brazil25Progress56RulebookAI bill in progressOpen tracker →Chile13Progress30RulebookAI bill in progressOpen tracker →Argentina16Progress22RulebookAI bill in progressOpen tracker →

Check AI-law news yourself

All our data sources →
Every law on these pages links to its official text and to an independent check. These are the registers and trackers we use, with what each is good for. A headline about a new AI law is real when the official register shows it.
Official registers8
Law and policy trackers4
  • OECD.AI Policy Navigator (formerly National AI Policies & Strategies database; GAIIN)OECDNational AI policy initiatives (strategies, governance bodies, funding, regulation) by jurisdictionUse it for Use as primary verification source for 'national AI strategy exists / date' and governance bodies; link each country page to its OECD.AI country profile
  • IAPP Global AI Law and Policy TrackerIAPP (International Association of Privacy Professionals)AI laws, policies, national strategies and responsible authorities per jurisdictionUse it for Cite as a secondary legal cross-check; link out; do not reproduce
  • Council of Europe Framework Convention (CETS 225) treaty chartCouncil of Europe Treaty Office · Live chart (see coe_convention block)Signature and ratification status of the first binding international AI treatyUse it for Primary source for a 'CoE AI Convention: signed / ratified' field per country
  • Digital Policy AlertDigital Policy Alert (St.Gallen Endowment for Prosperity through Trade) · ContinuousEvent-level tracker of digital policy changes incl. AI rules, by jurisdictionUse it for Use as verification source for law-stage changes; model aiadoption.org's country timeline on its event structure
Country indices11
  • Stanford HAI AI Index Report + Global AI Vibrancy ToolStanford Institute for Human-Centered AIAnnual state-of-AI report; Vibrancy Tool ranks national AI ecosystems (R&D, economy, policy, talent, infrastructure, public opinion, etc.)Use it for Reuse individual underlying indicators (with attribution) rather than the composite; link to Vibrancy Tool for each covered country
  • Tortoise Global AI IndexTortoise MediaNational AI capacity: investment, innovation, implementationUse it for Link out and quote rank with attribution only; do not reuse scores
  • Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index 2025Oxford InsightsWhether governments can harness AI for the public goodUse it for Cite as a verification source for governance/policy-capacity; reuse rank with attribution for countries lacking other data
  • Microsoft Global AI Diffusion Report (AI user share)Microsoft (AI Economy Institute / On the Issues)AI user share: % of working-age population (15-64) using generative AI products in the periodUse it for Reuse the per-country AI user share as the core 'adoption' metric with attribution and vintage label; flag method breaks
  • IMF AI Preparedness Index (AIPI)International Monetary Fund · June 2024 (released 25 June 2024); no later update foundMacro-structural readiness to adopt AIUse it for Use as background 'structural readiness' component only; label vintage 2024
  • Global Index on Responsible AI (GIRAI)Global Center on AI GovernanceGovernment commitments and implementation evidence for responsible AIUse it for Cite as verification source for responsible-AI governance; adopt its framework-vs-implementation distinction in aiadoption.org's law status pills
  • AI Safety / Security Institutes network (NAAIMES)Member governments; UK AI Security Institute as coordinatorMembership of the international network of AI safety/evaluation institutesUse it for Field 'has national AI evaluation institute (year)' per country; see safety_institutes block
  • Carnegie Endowment (AI governance research, e.g. China AI safety institute work)Carnegie Endowment for International Peace · Ongoing researchQualitative country analysis of AI governanceUse it for Cite for country narrative paragraphs
  • Brookings: How are countries evaluating AI models?Brookings Institution · Article (date not confirmed)Comparative analysis of national AI evaluation institutesUse it for Cite in safety-institute methodology notes
  • Anthropic Economic Index - geographic report (Anthropic AI Usage Index)AnthropicClaude usage per capita relative to working-age population by country (AUI), plus task mixUse it for Use as secondary adoption metric beside Microsoft; triangulate, never sole sourceLink not yet opened by us
  • Epoch AI dataEpoch AI · ContinuousNotable models, training compute, GPU clusters/data centres by countryUse it for Reuse 'notable models by country' and 'AI supercomputers by country' with attributionLink not yet opened by us
Research and safety4
  • CSET (Center for Security and Emerging Technology)Georgetown University · OngoingData-driven research on AI talent, investment, compute, policy (incl. ETO tools such as AGORA AI governance document set)Use it for Cite AGORA for law-text links; reuse open datasets with attributionLink not yet opened by us
  • International AI Safety ReportExpert panel chaired by Yoshua Bengio, UK-backed secretariat · 2026 edition expected/early 2026 (not verified)Scientific synthesis of general-purpose AI capabilities and risksUse it for Cite in methodology for why safety institutes/evaluation capacity are scored; list which countries sit on the panelLink not yet opened by us
  • Our World in Data - Artificial IntelligenceOur World in Data (Global Change Data Lab) · ContinuousCharts republishing AI data (investment, models, patents, public opinion) by countryUse it for Model chart UX on OWID; reuse CC BY datasets with attributionLink not yet opened by us
  • Artificial AnalysisArtificial Analysis · ContinuousModel benchmarks, price and speed; includes model origin by countryUse it for Use for 'frontier models produced by country' cross-check; citeLink not yet opened by us

How the scores work

Two scores, never added together. Download every score and indicator (CSV).

Progress, 0–100

  1. Five lenses, same for everyone. Adoption, Talent, Research, Investment and Infrastructure. Each lens is the average of its indicators; Progress is the average of the lenses.
  2. Only published numbers. Each indicator is a chart on AI Adoption with its source and CSV, or a public dataset linked on the page (Microsoft AI Diffusion, Epoch AI GPU Clusters).
  3. Scaled so outliers do not swamp the rest. Money, models and compute use a log scale on which the leader scores 100; shares and rates use the range of countries the source covers.
  4. Gaps stay gaps. A source that does not cover a country leaves a dash, never a guess. A country below a source's top-15 list scores 0 on that indicator, and the page says so. The coverage flag shows how many of the 17 indicators measure the country.

Rulebook, 0–100

How complete and binding a country's AI rules are. It does not grade whether the rules are good, strict or lenient. Points come only from laws we have verified against an official source.

Binding AI rulesup to 35
  • An AI law with enforceable duties on companies applies now35
  • Enforceable rules on AI systems apply, but only in part of the country26
  • An AI law with enforceable duties is enacted; its duties start later26
  • A national AI law is in force, but it sets no penalties for companies20
  • An AI bill or official draft is before the legislature or out for consultation10
  • No AI-specific law, bill or official draft0
Institutions, safeguards, international65
  • A national AI strategy, adopted or updated since 20228
  • A body named to oversee or enforce AI rules6
  • An AI safety or evaluation institute6
  • A right to challenge automated decisions, in force12
  • Rules on AI-generated content: labels or deepfake offences, in force13
  • International AI governance initiatives endorsed (of 8)12
  • Council of Europe AI Convention: signed 5, ratified 88
Disclosure: AI Adoption uses AI tools in its research and editorial work. No government, company or lobby group has any say in a country's scores or its law register, and the same rules apply to every country. Editorial standards · Data sources · Corrections
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